Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 5:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 5:38 p.m.

Photo Galleries

He ran out of .40-caliber ammo weeks ago and scours retail outlets and Internet sites for either, but he finds only empty shelves, backorder warnings and ever increasing prices.

"I noticed it starting a few months ago. Now at Walmart … they're out of everything … nothing on the shelves," said Matthews, 37, on Thursday before leaving RD Tactical Solutions shooting range and ammunition retailer in Ocala.

"(Walmart sales people) tell me they're trying to get it, but then I see other people trying to buy ammunition too and trying to buy it in bulk," he said.

Guns and ammunition have been flying off store shelves since President Barack Obama's re-election in November, retailers report. And after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December, the rush by consumers to buy ammunition went into overdrive.

Amid discussions by Washington lawmakers about banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, the increased demand has hit retailers like Walmart and gun shops across the country — and Marion County is no exception.

Walmart spokeswoman Ashley Hardie said the company is doing all it can to work with suppliers, who themselves are experiencing shortages.

Meanwhile, the retail giant — which most likely is the largest seller of ammunition in the U.S. — said it was evenly shipping what ammunition it could get to its stores so that all had some in stock.

Beginning in January, Walmart also limited its sales to no more than three boxes of ammunition per customer.

But with empty shelves and no inventory of the most popular caliber to sell at Marion County area Walmarts, Matthews said the three-box limit is a moot point.

Matthews said he shoots his .22-caliber rifle and the small, inexpensive ammo that he bought before the shortage.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are making ammunition as quickly as they can.

Jeff Hoffman, part owner of Black Hills Ammunition in South Dakota, said his business has back orders extending at least a year. He said other businesses are seeing the same demand.

"It's tough. We give them (our customers) the best guess (delivery date) we can," Hoffman said during a telephone interview.

That often means customers getting their supplies sometime later this year, or even into 2014.

There is no shortage, Hoffman said. The problem is that gun owners fearing future restrictive gun and ammunition legislation are buying what they can while it's available. That, coupled with an ever-growing concern by people that their government can no longer protect them during social upheavals, natural or man-made disasters, and an unpredictable economy, is fueling the rush to stockpile ammunition.

Similar runs on ammunition were seen in 1989; in 1994, during the ban on new assault-style rifles; and after the 2008 Obama election, Hoffman said.

"But this is the most concerned I have ever seen the (ammunition consumer) market," he said.

His plant produces tens of millions of ammunition rounds annually in most popular calibers, and the business follows a 50-hour work week. His clients are usually large suppliers and the U.S. government.

"And we have more customers now and the customers we have are buying more," Hoffman said.

Hoffman predicts the demand will continue to outpace supply for another year.

Back in Ocala, near RD Tactical's entrance, a sheet of paper with a list of nearly a dozen ammunition calibers are posted by the front desk, warning customers as to what is out of stock.

"That's the last thing we want to do is turn people away," said Dennis Miller, part owner of RD Tactical. But he has no choice.

And when ammunition is available, customers who would have typically bought no more than three boxes of 50 rounds each now ask to buy a case of 10 boxes, Miller said.

Miller agreed with Hoffman that much of what's fueling the demand is uncertainty.

That can also be seen in the number of the business' concealed weapons classes now offered to his customers.

"We used to have one class every third week with about 15 (clients). Now we have them every Saturday with 20-plus people," Miller said.

Miller predicts the demand for ammunition will start easing within a couple of months.

"The president has had his State of the Union address, Congress will be voting one way or the other (on gun legislation). Once that's completed the nation will have an idea of which way its going," he said.

Ron Birkhead, owner of American Gun on Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, predicts the demand will continue to push up prices.

He said his ammunition costs have increased about 25 percent, "and they'll continue to go up as they already have."

He also predicts that people will continue to buy all they can and even resell what they don't need, making a profit.

"So, it can get worse before it gets better," he said.

Meanwhile, some law enforcement agencies throughout the country have complained they are having trouble finding what they need to allow their employees to practice shooting.

Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman Judge Cochran said that is not the case here. His agency buys several months, or even a year, in advance to ensure it gets the ammunition it needs. He said the agency also buys enough in bulk that prices have remained steady.

Meanwhile, Matthews said he will continue looking for ammunition.

And while he was once content with owning a box or two before the most recent run on bullets depleted retail supplies, Matthews said his mindset about how much he needs has changed.

Once supplies build again in stores, he said, "I'm going to stock up."

<p>Martrell Matthews is down to his last box of .38-caliber ammunition.</p><p>He ran out of .40-caliber ammo weeks ago and scours retail outlets and Internet sites for either, but he finds only empty shelves, backorder warnings and ever increasing prices.</p><p>"I noticed it starting a few months ago. Now at Walmart … they're out of everything … nothing on the shelves," said Matthews, 37, on Thursday before leaving RD Tactical Solutions shooting range and ammunition retailer in Ocala.</p><p>"(Walmart sales people) tell me they're trying to get it, but then I see other people trying to buy ammunition too and trying to buy it in bulk," he said.</p><p>Guns and ammunition have been flying off store shelves since President Barack Obama's re-election in November, retailers report. And after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December, the rush by consumers to buy ammunition went into overdrive.</p><p>Amid discussions by Washington lawmakers about banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, the increased demand has hit retailers like Walmart and gun shops across the country — and Marion County is no exception.</p><p>Walmart spokeswoman Ashley Hardie said the company is doing all it can to work with suppliers, who themselves are experiencing shortages.</p><p>Meanwhile, the retail giant — which most likely is the largest seller of ammunition in the U.S. — said it was evenly shipping what ammunition it could get to its stores so that all had some in stock.</p><p>Beginning in January, Walmart also limited its sales to no more than three boxes of ammunition per customer.</p><p>But with empty shelves and no inventory of the most popular caliber to sell at Marion County area Walmarts, Matthews said the three-box limit is a moot point.</p><p>Matthews said he shoots his .22-caliber rifle and the small, inexpensive ammo that he bought before the shortage.</p><p>Meanwhile, manufacturers are making ammunition as quickly as they can.</p><p>Jeff Hoffman, part owner of Black Hills Ammunition in South Dakota, said his business has back orders extending at least a year. He said other businesses are seeing the same demand.</p><p>"It's tough. We give them (our customers) the best guess (delivery date) we can," Hoffman said during a telephone interview.</p><p>That often means customers getting their supplies sometime later this year, or even into 2014.</p><p>There is no shortage, Hoffman said. The problem is that gun owners fearing future restrictive gun and ammunition legislation are buying what they can while it's available. That, coupled with an ever-growing concern by people that their government can no longer protect them during social upheavals, natural or man-made disasters, and an unpredictable economy, is fueling the rush to stockpile ammunition.</p><p>Similar runs on ammunition were seen in 1989; in 1994, during the ban on new assault-style rifles; and after the 2008 Obama election, Hoffman said.</p><p>"But this is the most concerned I have ever seen the (ammunition consumer) market," he said.</p><p>His plant produces tens of millions of ammunition rounds annually in most popular calibers, and the business follows a 50-hour work week. His clients are usually large suppliers and the U.S. government.</p><p>"And we have more customers now and the customers we have are buying more," Hoffman said.</p><p>Hoffman predicts the demand will continue to outpace supply for another year.</p><p>Back in Ocala, near RD Tactical's entrance, a sheet of paper with a list of nearly a dozen ammunition calibers are posted by the front desk, warning customers as to what is out of stock.</p><p>"That's the last thing we want to do is turn people away," said Dennis Miller, part owner of RD Tactical. But he has no choice.</p><p>And when ammunition is available, customers who would have typically bought no more than three boxes of 50 rounds each now ask to buy a case of 10 boxes, Miller said.</p><p>Miller agreed with Hoffman that much of what's fueling the demand is uncertainty.</p><p>That can also be seen in the number of the business' concealed weapons classes now offered to his customers.</p><p>"We used to have one class every third week with about 15 (clients). Now we have them every Saturday with 20-plus people," Miller said.</p><p>Miller predicts the demand for ammunition will start easing within a couple of months.</p><p>"The president has had his State of the Union address, Congress will be voting one way or the other (on gun legislation). Once that's completed the nation will have an idea of which way its going," he said.</p><p>Ron Birkhead, owner of American Gun on Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, predicts the demand will continue to push up prices.</p><p>He said his ammunition costs have increased about 25 percent, "and they'll continue to go up as they already have."</p><p>He also predicts that people will continue to buy all they can and even resell what they don't need, making a profit.</p><p>"So, it can get worse before it gets better," he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, some law enforcement agencies throughout the country have complained they are having trouble finding what they need to allow their employees to practice shooting.</p><p>Marion County Sheriff's Office spokesman Judge Cochran said that is not the case here. His agency buys several months, or even a year, in advance to ensure it gets the ammunition it needs. He said the agency also buys enough in bulk that prices have remained steady.</p><p>Meanwhile, Matthews said he will continue looking for ammunition.</p><p>And while he was once content with owning a box or two before the most recent run on bullets depleted retail supplies, Matthews said his mindset about how much he needs has changed.</p><p>Once supplies build again in stores, he said, "I'm going to stock up."</p><p><i>Contact Fred Hiers at 867-4157 or fred.hiers@starbanner.com.</i></p>